A congressional calamity: Mired in allegations
By Paul M. Weyrich
web posted December 19, 2005
I am second to none in my admiration for Congressman Tom
DeLay (R-TX) and what he has done with that unruly crew
known as the House Republican Conference. Now DeLay,
awaiting a trial on money-laundering in Texas, is no longer
Majority Leader, at least for now. His position as Majority
Leader was assumed by House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-
MO).
To be blunt about it (pun intended), the Congressman from
Missouri is getting a bum rap. Blunt has had problems getting
some bills through the House. One appropriations bill was
defeated and another bill was pulled from the calendar when, at
the last minute, it was clear that the votes were not there to pass
it.
Blunt, it is rumored, doesn't have the clout that DeLay had and
thus can't keep his people together to pass these bills. Although
Blunt is a good friend, were the rumor true I would admit it. It is
not true. Circumstances have changed. That is why Blunt
appears to be struggling and the DeLay machine appears to have
rolled along.
From 1995, when DeLay became Majority Whip, to the
indictment earlier this year, when DeLay stepped down from the
Leadership, DeLay always secured some Democratic votes.
Once he complained that the Democratic Caucus so pressured
its Members to vote party line that he counted only seven
Democratic defectors voting with the Republicans. Regularly
over 20 Democrats would vote with DeLay. Sometimes on
controversial measures the count was much higher. That masked
Republican defectors to the Democrats. On the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) vote, for example, an equivalent
number of Republicans and Democrats defected. ANWR easily
was passed because Democrats who voted for ANWR
balanced the defections of more than 20 Republicans who
opposed ANWR.
Were you to be on Capitol Hill these days you would understand
that Democrats now believe they will control the 110th
Congress. I have no proof, but I am willing to wager that the
Democratic Leadership has warned the defectors that if they
want to chair subcommittees or committees in 2007 or if they
want to remain on certain key committees they now had better
vote with the Democratic Leadership.
Suddenly Blunt finds himself having to get through tough
measures, such as the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 cutting $50
billion in spending, with only Republican votes. Yes, Republicans
control the House 232 to 202, with one Independent who is a
Socialist voting with the Democrats. Subtract 20 Republicans,
add zero Democrats and the magic 218 majority just isn't there.
Blaming Blunt for this situation is patently unfair. If Blunt had
polls showing that the public loved the Republican Majority and
wanted to return it, Blunt could count the same number of
Democratic votes which DeLay always received. Unfortunately
for Blunt Republican and Democratic polls indicate that the
public thinks ill of Congress, blames Republicans and is willing to
put Democrats back in power. That may change in 11 months
but now Blunt must deal with these matters.
After a very tough month, that the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
was passed, albeit by a few votes and without ANWR. Other
measures have been passed as well. Blunt remains standing and
is preparing for the new year. DeLay meanwhile has asked for a
speedy trial. Were DeLay to stand trial early in January and if, as
many expect, were he to be acquitted of money-laundering
charges, he perhaps could avoid a new leadership election and
resume his post as Majority Leader. Clearly were the trial to
drag on there would be a new leadership election and DeLay
would be unable to return to his leadership post even if the jury
found him not guilty.
Some Republicans are alleged to want a new leadership election
regardless of DeLay's fate in court. That is because of a looming
scandal of potential mammoth proportion, which centers upon
lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff is said to have defrauded
several American Indian tribes which operate casinos of millions
of dollars while lobbying Congress on their behalf. While
lobbying, Abramoff took some Members of Congress on some
pretty fancy trips, allegedly usually paid for by a 501(c)(3)
organization, which Abramoff would reimburse for the trips. The
scandal is under investigation by Senator John S. McCain, III
(R-AZ), chairman of Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs,
as well as by the Justice Department.
One source who appears to be knowledgeable about the
investigation alleges that eight Members of Congress are
involved in the scandal and that the number likely will grow
higher. Congressman Robert W. ("Bob") Ney (R-OH) has been
told by the Justice Department that he is a target of their
investigation and could be in legal jeopardy. Translated: He may
be indicted. DeLay's name has been linked to the entire
investigation. His involvement is not known publicly.
Members of Congress fear this scandal far more than they fear
immigration, profligate spending or the Iraqi War. Democrats
already have advanced the 2006 theme that Republicans have
created "a culture of corruption" in Washington. When, in an
unrelated scandal, Congressman Randy ("Duke") Cunningham
(R-CA) resigned because he accepted $2.4 million in bribes
from defense contractors, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
(D-CA), Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard B.
Dean,III, M.D. were among those who inundated the media with
the "culture of corruption" theme.
Were it to be disclosed that DeLay is more involved with
Abramoff than originally had been thought there is a fair
possibility that members would insist upon a new leadership
election, in part to distance themselves from DeLay. The Justice
Department evidently now has as a witness a former Abramoff
employee who, in order to save his own skin, may sing, sing,
sing. Whether he will be truthful when singing is another story.
The prosecutorial system sometimes provides a potential witness
an incentive to lie. Former California State Assembly Leader Pat
Nolan was jailed based upon testimony from a single staff
member who claimed she had witnessed his changing his vote in
exchange for a bribe. Other witnesses claimed the opposite. The
frightened lady was told that she would not see her young
children graduate from college if she did not testify as the
prosecution wished.
Members don't know what will become of the Abramoff scandal
but they fear the worst. For that reason, poor DeLay, even were
he fresh from a possible acquittal in Texas, might not return as
Majority Leader.
Some Democrats also are involved in this scandal. That doesn't
bother the Democratic Leadership. They will push the "culture of
corruption" theme anyway, knowing that the old line media will
give them coverage.
There is hope. Rush Limbaugh continues to add listeners. Sean
Hannity just has added his 500th station. Newsmax.com now
attracts 2.4 million readers a day. Locally over a thousand
conservative radio talk show hosts and various conservative web
sites, a number of which carry this commentary, regularly are
gaining new listeners.
The New Media competes with the Old Media so the truth
about this scandal may be balanced. The real problem is:
Congress is involved in too much of the nation's business. Human
nature is weak. Temptations abound. There is more corruption in
Washington than formerly because there is much more
temptation. Yes, there is a culture of corruption. But it isn't
members taking golf outings. It is the billions of taxpayer money
which Congress should not be spending. As is often the case,
when all is said and done, the wrong people may go to jail.
Paul M. Weyrich is the Chairman and CEO of the Free
Congress Foundation (www.freecongress.org/)
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